East Longmeadow will meet Goffstown (N.H.) Post 16 today at 1 p.m. for the right to meet Branford again at 7 p.m. with a World Series berth in Spokane, Wash., on the line.

“I know we lost the first (regional) game,” said pitcher James Christensen, who threw a four-hitter Sunday. “No one was giving us a shot, coming from Western Mass and everything. But we never give up, and never gave up. And we’re still playing.”

East Longmeadow is seeking to become the first squad from Western Massachusetts since 1978 to appear in an ALWS, and just the fourth in 50 years.

“It would be a speechless feeling,” EL head coach Jason Shea said. “We know what we’ve got to do to get the job done. We want to end up in Washington.”

First baseman Frank Calabrese wasn’t thinking about regional glory. His sights were set a bit closer to home.

“Well, it’s always nice to win,” he said. “But we’re just looking to play as hard as we can. As long as we play hard, we’ll do good.”

Post 293 struck early and forcefully, grabbing a 4-0 lead in the second, then expanding it to 7-0 in the third.

Matt O’Neil started it all with a leadoff single, then was knocked in by Christensen, who helped his own cause with a double to the gap.

Sean Harrington followed with a walk, which set the stage for Colin O’Neil’s three-run homer.

It was his second round tripper in as many days, coming on the heels of his solo blast in Saturday’s 9-8 win over Gayton Post 31 (Maine).

Next inning, Kyle DiFranco and Calabrese drew walks, and a batter later, Christensen drove them in with a line shot over the left-field fence.

“I think it was a fastball, up,” Christensen said. “I think he (Branford starter Daniel Mercado) left it a bit too high. Right when I hit it, I knew it was gone. I took two steps, threw the bat, put my head down, and started jogging to first base.”

That proved to be more than enough run support for Christensen, who was strong throughout his stint.

He carried a two-hit shutout into the bottom of the eighth before Branford managed to score its lone run.

“We’re all square,” Christensen said. “Everyone’s 3-1. Everything’s the same now. So (it’s up to) whoever is going to grit it out. No matter what we play with the same mentality. No one’s getting edgy. We’re real loose about everything now.”